AFL Round 22 – Richmond v Essendon: The same old thing

It has certainly been a long few weeks for my favourite club. Heavy losses started against St Kilda and Collingwood and ended with a complete embarrassment against Carlton last week. My friends luckily didn’t bag me about it. This week we needed to win to be mathematically possible of even making eighth spot. That wasn’t the least of my worries; my tennis semi-final was coming up the next morning. Since I had been on a sports camp the same week, my muscles were so stiff and at one stage I could barely walk. That’s what the 1000 steps, a velodrome, the tan and an AFL-style draft camp does to you! Essendon though didn’t have stiff muscles, they needed to win and win well.

The first quarter was a sign of Essendon’s season. Flashes of brilliance showed, but kicking errors and the pressure of Richmond forwards pushed us back. This showed as Essendon kicked across half-back and was spoiled and the goal went to Deledio. Jetta stumble on the goal line and gifted Nick O’Brien his first goal in AFL. Not bad for your first kick. From there, Essendon and Richmond traded goals until Edwards kicked a goal with two seconds left on the clock. Essendon down again!

The second quarter showed that Angus Monfries may not be playing well for Essendon; he will certainly have a place in the Socceroos after doing a nutmeg to give Essendon its only goal for the quarter. Richmond dominated the quarter, but failed to capitalise, kicking six behinds and three goals. Still, it gave them a handy lead. Twenty one points is a bit of a buffer. We lost Alwyn Davey to a hamstring. That is the 18th player we have lost to soft tissue injury. That is the one reason we don’t make the finals.

The third quarter started off with a Jetta free kick and Hurley showing off. Martin crashed into the fifty to kick a goal, but Essendon were slowly creeping back with Browne and Monfries kicking goals, but then Riewoldt snapped a goal and Nahas goaled on the siren to give Richmond a thirty seven point lead.

The last quarter was very dour. Monfries kicked his third goal and Richmond piled on the behinds kicking only one goal and eight behinds. Essendon season has spiralled down since the Melbourne match. We are now out of the eight and could possibly finish twelfth!

I am asking a honest question since I don’t know this. When was the last time Essendon went on a six match losing streak?

P.S We made it through to the Grand Final after winning five sets to one on Saturday. YAY!

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